Wansolwara News

Vol. 5 No. 2
June 2000

Front Page

CRISIS FALLOUT MAY HIT USP STAFF
June 2000

By REGGIE DUTT

THE UNIVERSITY of the South Pacific may face a major staffing shortage
in the fallout from Fijis political crisis. Personnel manager Kristin
Adair told Wansolwara last week that a lot of the senior staff
at Laucala campus had indicated they wanted to leave.

The Vice-Chancellor, Esekia Solofa, also said he expected some resignations
 as happened after the 1987 coups. I dont know how many,
and I hope not too many, but I expect that there will be some, Mr
Solofa said.

Ms Adair said she could not put a number on the people who had resigned
or who would resign. It is a little unclear at the moment 
the verbal number is different to what we actually have in writing,
said Ms Adair.

A lot of people have indicated they will, but whether they follow
through is another question. Asked who were indicating a desire
to leave, Ms Adair said: In all cases, they are senior people.

Everytime something happens, it changes peoples minds,
she said.

It was also affecting decisions by people who had planned to stay on
for a further contract. New people being recruited have also been affected.

Ms Adair said she had received messages saying, what is happening?
and we dont want to come anymore. She said it was a
hard waiting game.

In fact, what most people from overseas are concerned about is
not safety, but devaluation, and the effect it might have on university
salaries.

She said they had to look at their financial abilities before they could
come here and USP had no way of reassuring them. The university hoped
the situation would soon stabilise.